Outside the Beltway

Winging it is seldom a sound diplomatic strategy.

Leaked estimates are at substantial variance from administration claims.

News whiplash and the weird communications stylings of the Trump administration.

Now what?

Plus: Pete visits the Hill.

A requiem for something lost.

A way out of the mess.

A warning from the Commander-in-Chief to the crazy bastards.

Versus strait rhetoric.

Iran has fired on a vessel in the Strait of Hormuz.

We’ve switched roles.

Also, this Just In: WWII Was 80 Years Ago

Some good news for democracy, for a change.

The flailing president.

No significant U.S. war aims were achieved.

The President has threatened massive war crimes.

The Madmen Theory doesn’t work when both sides are using it.

Simpler times.

Praise be to Allah, you crazy bastards!

A podcast recommendation.

So much winning.

It’s a real mystery…

Nineteen minutes. Zero answers.

Having set the region afire, he’s prepared to let others clean up the mess.

There’s still no strategy.

So much winning.

Nothing like a war of choice to send indicators in the wrong direction.

Someone had to report it!

At a time of increased terrorist threat, look who is in charge of key departments.

Maybe talks, but maybe not?

STARTING WITH THE BIGGEST ONE FIRST, naturally.

The Art of the Deal in action.

Why not both?

When people tell you who they are, believe them the first time.

The regime is not a -changin’.

When international tournaments aren’t international.

Other than that, Mrs. Lincoln, how was the play?

Little Marco has come a long way.

Plans are worthless, but planning is everything.

An update from the Commander-in-Chief.

Is no one thinking about the end state?

Iran will soon have a new Supreme Leader. For now.

Oil prices are sharply up.

Apparently, not the president or his “leadership council.”

Well, it’s complicated.

Memes, movies, TV shows, and actual war. One of these things is not like the other.

Or, why having simpletons in charge is a bad idea.

What could go wrong?

Now we know why it started when it did.